Take your training to the next level in style.

It used to be that if you wanted to get fit you'd lace up some shoes and go run around until you felt like you had done enough. And that was all well and good, but it did limit how seriously you could take your training. As our understanding of what constitutes effective training has changed, so have our methods of tracking and analyzing fitness, and the Garmin fenix 3 Sapphire watch is at the cutting edge of this technological shift. Nominally, it's a watch, but it's a watch in the same way a supersonic stealth bomber is an airplane: so packed full of tech that it's hardly comparable to other members of its category. And the best part is, unless you tell someone how crazy it is,
they won't even know you're wearing something that would make your Grandpa's pocket-watch-reading head explode. That's because the fenix 3 Sapphire looks like a fashionable everyday watch, with its stainless steel housing, interchangeable metal and rubber bands, and sparkling domed Sapphire crystal face keeping the digital display safe and sound.

The thing is, that stainless steel housing and crystal-clear face conceal an EXO+ GPS and GLONASS antenna that's the basis for all the location-marking, activity-tracking, and route-planning capabilities of the fenix 3. It can tell you how fast you're going, how far you've gone, where you are, where you're going, when you'll get there, how fast your heart's beating, how many calories
you've burned, how much elevation you've gained, what type of swimming stroke you're doing, how many ski runs you've taken, how soundly you're sleeping, and literally dozens of other things that would take too much time to list. It can even come up with a digital partner for you to race against, let you race against yourself, or let you see how much faster you bike than run the same course.

Once it has tracked all of these things, it can save them or automatically share them with your phone, tablet, or computer, so you can see what you've done, the progress you've made, and start planning for the future. Among other things, it is compatible with ANT+, which lets your tracking devices talk to each other and share even more data, various heart rate monitors, and Garmin's tempe thermometer. You can even get email, text, and stock alerts while you're on the move, if you can't stand be disconnected even when you're in the wilderness. No matter how you slice it, the fenix 3 is a powerful piece of wearable tech that has the ability to totally change how you work out, recreate, compete, and explore.

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All it was made out to be

Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer

I have used the watch for about 2 weeks. I am still figuring out stuff that it is capable of doing. I have to say that it is all that it was made out to be. One of the biggest perks is the way it looks. I have received many complements on it. I do not think that people know that it is a fitness watch.

Comment on Darrell L.'s review:

just too big for my female wrist

I love the features of my Fenix 2 but it is huge so I got this, Fenix 3 sapphire for a dressier look, I really like it. Very sophisticated and light weight but I am fearful I will not wear it either so I am returning it. I am sure on a man it would be perfect. Garmin rocks with their features so I will explore the Vivoactive instead. It seems to have many of the features I want at a much lower price point.

Comment on yourDisplayName's review:

in the office & backcountry lovefest

Familiarity: I've used it several times

I upgraded from the fenix2 mainly so I could wear it comfortably with khakis and a button down in the office. Got more than I expected with the upgrade; more features, slimmer design, and tougher shell. Didn't think I'd appreciate the color e-paper as I have but I am a fan. Does everything I loved in the 2, plus more integration to apps on your smartphone. Battery life is impressive even with a constant connection to the phone. It's great to have it always on for alerts, knowing when sunrise/set is and storm notifications. Can't say enough good things about the watch.

Comment on Mike Massie's review:

Awesome, but....

Familiarity: I've used it several times

Best watch I ever owned (for a week). I loved this watch and it works better than any of the other 4 garmin devices I own. Picks up satellites in seconds, smart watch features are super cool and useful and everything else is perfect. Build is rugged and yet very classy, enough so that I can wear it to the office unlike my fenix 2. Now the BUT...a few days after receiving it I noticed red rashes appearing on my arm around where the watch was. I went to the dermatologist and as it turns out I am allergic to something in the metal or coating that they use. Now, the watch is returned, my arm is healed, and there is a hole in my heart where it used to be.

Comment on Bryan Gensits's review:

Strong, Durable, and Accurate.

Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer

I have had this watch for a little over three months now, and I can say it has survived everything I have thrown at it. I first tried the Fenix 3, with the hardened mineral glass, and within the first few weeks I noticed that I have developed a scratch on the glass (it was right in the center and every time the sun hit it, it would blur the speed value cell.) So I had returned it to buy the Fenix 3 Sapphire, which for another $100 wasn't too big of a deal especially since I keep the items I buy until they give out. But what I got for another $100 was a glass lenses that was superior to the hardened mineral glass. I wear this watch 24/7. I have crashed on this watch while on my mountain bike, it hasn't been scratched during rock climbing, hiking I haven't had any issues, during my swims it hasn't leaked, and also working in a machine shop I haven't scratched it at all.

The GPS and the other data that I have gotten off of this watch is a bit more accurate than my Garmin 800. I have done 10 runs with this watch and my Garmin 800. I have found that the GPS with the Garmin 800 was off slightly on some of the roads and mountain passes (sometimes it would spike off a few miles and then reconnect when it hit a satellite) I have cycled and hiked around, while the Fenix 3 hasn't had any issues at all with mountain passes nor tall trees the gps data has stayed on the course at all times. It has worked here in New Mexico as well (Utah, Washington, and Canada) where I have hiked and cycled.

Comment on amara S.'s comment:

Yes, I do use a heart rate strap. The heart rate strap I prefer to use is the Garmin Premium Heart Rate Strap, the item number is: GRM000S. It's a very good strap and very accurate. I would highly recommend that one, and it sync's up with the Fenix 3 without problems. I hope that helps!